Beet juice

[1930]

Stupid question but is it really beet juice as in the vegetable?

I told my dealer yesterday that I wanted tractor weights added to the wheels, he told me that instead they would fill the tires with water.

I told him no way I don't want water or windshield washer fluid in my tires.

If anything I wanted beet juice cuz I've read online that was the proper thing to fill the tires with.

after thinking about it for a couple of minutes I decided I just wanted weights so that if I ever punctured a tire I wouldn't lose whatever was inside of the rim.

So what exactly is beet juice

 

[mcfarmall]

Beet Juice is a byproduct of turning sugar beets into granulated sugar. Sugar beets are grown in many areas of Michigan. Beet juice or beet juice blends are heavier per gallon than plain water or windshield washer fluid and will not freeze at temperatures normally encountered in winter. Beet juice is also considered by many to be non-corrosive when compared to calcium chloride tire ballast.

 

[1930]

Beet Juice is a byproduct of turning sugar beets into granulated sugar. Sugar beets are grown in many areas of Michigan. Beet juice or beet juice blends are heavier per gallon than plain water or windshield washer fluid and will not freeze at temperatures normally encountered in winter. Beet juice is also considered by many to be non-corrosive when compared to calcium chloride tire ballast.

Is it thick like syrup or is it more watery what's the consistency?

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

The biggest reason we use beet juice (commercial name is "Rimguard") up here is the low freezing point. It won't freeze solid at -30 to -40 F that we see here in winter. The fact that it is more dense (heavier) than water per gallon is just a side benefit.

When I lived in AZ (born and raised N. of Phoenix), we used only straight water for tire ballast. It never got cold enough for a long enough duration to freeze the entire volume of water in the tires, so it wasn't a problem.

Being as how you are in Florida, I don't see the reason to use Rimguard down there. Straight water would be just fine, it's cheap, plentiful, and easy to replace if needed.

 

[TheMan419]

Rimguard is also environmentally friendly. Whereas some of the other compounds put in tires is not. So if you were to puncture a tire you not only have to deal with the fluid loss, but now you have a contamination issue to clean up.

Around these parts (Northern Indiana) they use some formulation of beet juice as an anti-icing agent when we know snow and ice is on the way. It is more expensive than salt, but works better and does not contribute to cars rusting.

Generally fluids in the tire are cheaper per pound than wheel weights.

Where you are I would consider water. If it gets too cold for a brief period during winter you can always remove the water. Since it is cheap you can easily replace it in the spring. Tools for filling your own tires are available and fairly cheap.

Up here in the great white north as mentioned we need something that will not freeze until at least -20F or so.

 

[1930]

I recently had to replace a tire on my B series Kubota, it was filled with water and the rim had all but rotted out.

I'm sure that it had been in there a long time

 

[mcfarmall]

Is it thick like syrup or is it more watery what's the consistency?

More watery than syrupy...

Regardless of what fluid you are using, I would recommend installing tubes first. I've heard of folks tires spinning on the rim under a heavy draft load and a tube would provide a larger friction surface across the well as opposed to just the bead seat area. Tubes would also limit the possibility of contact between the metal rim and ballast fluid.

 

[oosik]

My first tractor had calcium chloride - salt water - in the rear tires. It worked fine for about ten years. Then it became a REAL PITA. I had to replace the valve stems at least twice annually.

I'm pretty sure beet juice is about the heaviest liquid that you can have put in your tires. I've had it in mine, now, for ten years. No problems.

Whatever you finally decide - have some anti-corrosion product added also. No need to have ANY corrosion problems when so many good products are readily available.

 

[fried1765]

Stupid question but is it really beet juice as in the vegetable?

I told my dealer yesterday that I wanted tractor weights added to the wheels, he told me that instead they would fill the tires with water.

I told him no way I don't want water or windshield washer fluid in my tires.

If anything I wanted beet juice cuz I've read online that was the proper thing to fill the tires with.

after thinking about it for a couple of minutes I decided I just wanted weights so that if I ever punctured a tire I wouldn't lose whatever was inside of the rim.

So what exactly is beet juice

Beet juice does not really make any sense in Florida.
Yes... it is the heaviest liquid for tires that you can use, but it is also the most expensive, and messy if you should have a leak.
It may be the best in cold climates, but you are in Florida.
CaCl also is heavier than water, but will destroy your rims over time.
In Florida: Stick with water!
In most places it is basically free.

 

[Avenger]

Even if you are in warmer climates, I would go with beet juice. It is heavy, pure and simple. If you are in need of ballast, you will need all you can get. Water weighs 8.34lbs/gal putting my tires with 55 gallon capacity at 458.7lbs per tire. If I fill (and I did) the tires with beet juice, weighing in at about 10lbs/gal, they weigh 550lbs per tire. So about 100lbs more per tire, and there are two the last time I checked. Every bit adds up. Yes, it is more expensive than water or windshield washer fluid, but remember the reason you are considering it, weight.